Question: Was Will the one who murdered his wife, or was it Stewart in an attempt to get Will charged with murder, so he could get his job back and not have to deal with Will anymore?
Azalea
14th Sep 2024
Wolf (1994)
When Charlotte met Will in the hotel lobby about her "mistake" with Stewart, she said that she would talk to him about it. Will refused to listen and told her to keep away from him. He didn't want to be anywhere near Charlotte, and after she left the hotel, she probably went to talk to Stewart anyway. Considering the kind of person he really is, he murdered her. It was even said that there were more deaths besides her, all done by Stewart.
I also think it was Will, out of anger because she cheated on him.
5th Apr 2007
Frasier (1993)
Answer: Lilith had an affair with one of her colleagues.
13th Sep 2021
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
The Fresh Prince Project - S1-E1
Question: Why did Philip think Will deliberately embarrassed him during the dinner party? Will spent his whole life in Philly and even though he knew how to act and behave around people from his own neighborhood, it was his first time in Bel-Air and had no knowledge of how others lived or how they interacted with each other.
Answer: He believed he was asserting his independence and individuality, not giving in to the conformist rich society. Movie quote, "I don't act this way to change the world. I act this way, so the godamn world doesn't change me."
Answer: I don't disagree with the other comment, but I want to add that Phillip views Will as a rebellious and disrespectful teenager. At this point, he thinks that Will doesn't care about his wish to have a pleasant dinner party.
19th Jul 2024
What Lies Beneath (2000)
Question: If Norman married Claire when she was "touring with a baby" (Caitlin), why is he not referred to as Caitlin's stepfather? When they take her to college, Claire refers to him as "Norman" when speaking to her. I've seen the movie a few times and always thought this was a little odd. Many people would even think of a stepfather as "father" if he was the one who raised them for most of their life.
Answer: There's no rule about how a step-father is referred to. Caitlin may simply not consider him a father figure to remain close to her real dad. Many step-children call their step-parent by their first name, regardless of how long the parents have been married. Most likely this is a plot device so that the audience isn't confused about or doesn't forget that Norman is not Caitlin's real father. Some may be offended by a father killing his biological child's mother. It makes Norman less attached to either Claire or Caitlin.
I am not trying to be rude, but have you seen this movie? You say that Caitlin might be close to her real dad. He is dead. Claire was "touring with a baby" after he died, and then she met Norman. Hence why I found the situation a bit odd. Norman has been in Caitlin's life since she was a "baby."
I saw the movie some years ago and don't remember every small detail. However, my main point was that calling Norman by his first name was a plot device to keep the audience focused on him not being Caitlin's biological father. This kept his character more detached from Claire and Caitlin, and made him less sympathetic. It showed an emotional/personal divide existed between Norman and Claire and her daughter. He has less resistance in killing Claire if they did not share a biological child.
31st Jul 2019
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
Question: When Daniel is calling home to apply for the job of housekeeper, why did he use different accents instead of just using the British accent instantly?
Answer: Daniel was pretending to be different people that were just all very horrible, so he used different accents. This way, when the "British nanny" calls, he was hoping Miranda would instantly consider him. If he called pretending to be Ms. Doubtfire right away, she might not have basically given him the job right away. And if he used the charming British accent for all his characters, it would have lost its charm when he decided to be Ms. Doubtfire.
Answer: He was just practising or trying it out, and took a while to think of it.
9th Jun 2024
General questions
When an actor wants to leave a show or is fired, why is the character killed off instead of having them do something else? In House M.D, Kal Penn wanted to leave the show, so his character was written as having committed suicide. Wouldn't it have been better to have his character leave the show by either having him take a job somewhere else or having him get fired instead of him killing himself? In Roseanne, her character overdosed. Why not have her character divorce Dan instead?
Answer: Often times it's done for dramatic purposes, even if the actor leaves on good terms. Writing an episode where a character dies is much more jarring to the audience and something they may talk about the next day. Plus, actors that suddenly leave the show, don't return the next season, or die in real life, aren't there to say goodbye to friends, family, or colleagues before taking another job, going off to college, or getting fired. Which is what normally happens in real life, so it would come across as unrealistic. But there's plenty of shows/characters where an actor is knowingly leaving the show, so writers do have time to write a farewell type episode in. Also, by killing off characters, the audience doesn't have an expectation for their return and writers don't have to think about them. Of course, the alternative is recasting the character and then just dealing with the backlash or criticism of such a cheap move.
It does seem like recasting is rarely done, and the audience usually doesn't like the replacement.
There's a number of cast replacements in TV shows, but often it's minor characters. More prominent ones include Dick Sargent replacing Dick York as Darrin in "Bewitched," and Sarah Chalke taking over Lecy Goranson's role as Becky in "Roseanne." Neither replacement actor was warmly received by viewers.
25th Jun 2021
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
Mama's Baby, Carlton's Maybe - S3-E5
Question: Cindy seemed fine with the Banks' wanting a paternity test, but Carlton later reveals that he is a virgin. So what exactly was Cindy planning to do? The test would reveal that Carlton was not her son's father, and she would need to admit to the Banks that she lied. Why stay there and wait for a negative test?
Answer: The major plot point was Carlton was willing to let his family believe he was the father rather than admit he was a virgin. As long as he kept lying about not being a virgin, Cindy wouldn't necessarily have to lie, she could just claim she wasn't sure and thought it was Carlton's.
Also, her parents had kicked her out of their home. If nothing else, the DNA test would give her an excuse to stay with the Banks family for a few days.
Answer: Cindy was taking advantage of Carlton. He had liked her for years and his parents are wealthy. She wanted to persuade him to marry her and raise the child as his own, no matter what his parents said about the paternity test.
23rd Jun 2024
Titanic (1997)
Question: What made Rose change her mind about marrying Cal? Jack talks to her in the gym. It then goes to a scene of Rose at dinner with her mom and two other women. What happened that made her change her mind?
Answer: When Rose is sitting with her mother and the other two women, she stares at a nearby table, where a woman is correcting her daughter's posture and movements. I think Rose imagined the future. Did she want to be like that woman in ten or so years? Married to Cal, and shaping her own daughter into a socially acceptable young lady?
Answer: Not loving or having any feelings for him in the first place, combined with it being very obvious from the start that her mother only arranged it to get Cal's money, plus the fact that he is possessive, ignorant, emotionally abusive, and violent, combined with her reawakened sense of self and determination inspired by her meeting Jack. She put on a veneer of being committed to Cal and the marriage, and got defensive when Jack called her out on it, because she was trying to do what she was "supposed" to do. Gradually, however, she realised that it was possible to be with someone who valued her and made her happy (Jack), and that she shouldn't submit to marrying Cal just out of financial and societal pressure.
Some viewers think that Cal actually loved Rose and basically treated her well until she got involved with Jack. He only "snapped" because of the way she changed during the voyage. Of course, we can speculate that he would end up "snapping" someday, no matter what. Even if he and Rose proceeded with their marriage as planned.
18th Jun 2024
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
Question: Why not take over this planet's cloning process instead of shutting it down and recruiting others to be Stormtroopers, when the clones were 100% obedient and loyal to the Emperor?
Answer: I think recruiting people is one of the sneaky ways of controlling the galaxy. Many Stormtroopers might have spouses and children back home. They could be receiving a tiny salary. Maybe some younger adults are eager to get away from their home planets, as Luke and Anakin both were. Still, others could be criminals who agreed to serve as Stormtroopers instead of another sentence (in "Game of Thrones", some convicted criminals can choose to join the Night's Watch order). These would all be ways to convince more citizens to support the Empire, instead of just training clones.
I'd like to add besides these points that it's possible the cloning process is just too slow and cumbersome for the Emperor. They were useful as shock troops, to fight droid armies. But their numbers were not great enough to cover the entire galaxy as a security force. This especially once the Rebel Alliance shows up. I'd say recruiting people gives him a much-needed manpower boost in a shorter time.
Answer: There would be serious moral and ethical issues about cloning sentient beings just to become mindless, obedient servants/slaves/killers to achieve your cause, regardless of its good intent.
But the Empire clearly doesn't really have moral/ethical issues about most stuff, so that's not really an argument.
Ray West mentions "mindless, obedient" servants, which is a good point. I think an army of "mindless" clones would actually be less effective. Instead, the Emperor claims that the Jedi wanted to overthrow the Senate. If he can persuade a decent number of people to support him, and spread his way of thinking, he can slowly gain more influence around the galaxy.
9th Jun 2024
General questions
Is there a general reason why American actors are chosen for starring roles as British characters, or vice versa? I've read about Renée Zellweger working at a British publishing firm to prepare for the Bridget Jones movie. Andrew Lincoln played a Southern US man on "The Walking Dead" for several years. Natalie Portman hired a coach to help her prepare for playing Anne Boleyn. With all due respect to them, would it not be easier to simply use an actual British or American actor?
Answer: Why "easier"? If an actor can do the right accent and is the best fit for the role, there's no great hardship in someone traveling for work and changing their voice. It's not like they're hiring someone with a completely inappropriate physical look that will involve hours in makeup every day. If the best person for the role happens to be a different nationality, far better to get them to do an accent and make the movie better, rather than hiring someone with the right natural accent but who isn't actually as good a fit. Producers and directors and casting directors don't owe it to actors of either nationality to give them work, their job is to find the best person for the film they're making.
Why the snappy response? This is why people are afraid to ask questions.
What was "snappy"? You used the word easier, I asked why. I didn't accuse you of implying anyone was owed work, I was just stating that as a fact. Slightly odd you'd reply "thank you for your comment" then later come back with your own "snappy" response, when I just answered the question you asked. No evidence anyone's afraid to ask question either - they get asked here all the time.
By "easier", I only meant that some of the preparation work might have been skipped by choosing someone who is already American or British. Also, I did not mean to imply that any actors are "owed" work. They're not. I was only curious about why actors are chosen for such roles. Thank you for your comment.
Even actors playing someone of their own nationality often have to work with a dialect coach to perfect a regional accent. An American actor who grew up on the West Coast does not speak the same as someone from New England, the Mid-West, the South, Texas, New York, etc. The same for British actors as there are many regional accents and dialects they may have to master.
Answer: Working Title Films tried for years to raise the finance to make "Bridget Jones' Diary", but nobody was interested, even with Rachel Weisz and later Kate Winslet attached as Bridget. Then one day Renée Zellweger signed on and Miramax and Universal threw money at them. This explains the many jarring Americanisms in the film, sops to the film's US financiers.
Answer: Would add to the other answers that it's typical when casting a movie there are usually multiple actors considered for a main role. Movies are a huge and risky financial investment, so for a big-budget film, it's usually a small pool of bankable A-list actors that are considered, regardless of their nationality. In the case of Bridget Jones' Diary, Helena Bonham-Carter, Cate Blanchett, Emily Watson, Rachel Weisz, Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, and Toni Collette were considered. Some were already tied to other projects, Winslet was ultimately considered too young, Weisz was too pretty, and so on before producers landed on Zellweger. I also suspect some of these well-known actresses balked at playing a slightly overweight character that would have required them gaining weight for the role. Zellweger put on 20 lbs. To pay Bridget.
14th Jun 2007
Home Improvement (1991)
Question: Was the actor who played Cal Boreland really Richard Karn's brother in real life?
Answer: No the guy sent in a picture of himself because he thought he looked like Al. So they brought him on the show as his brother.
Answer: According to imdb.com: Richard has only one sister. http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0439781/bio.
Answer: It should also be noted, Richard Karn is his stage name as Karn is his middle name. His real name is Richard Wilson. Cal was played by Keith Lehman.
Siblings can have different last names. One might have a different father. Maybe one legally changed his name for some reason, or a man took his wife's last name (not as common, but it happens). Of course, these two actors are not actually related, but I just wanted to point this out.
18th May 2005
Mean Girls (2004)
Question: When Janis is explaining the Cliques to Cady, she mentions the "Preps". Aren't the Plastics preps?
Answer: Not necessarily. "Preps" usually consist of a huge group of both boys and girls (at least in my high school expierence!). The plastics were just three really mean girls that thought they were above all other cliques.
Answer: As the other comment says, preps are usually a bigger group of well-known boys and girls. At both of my high schools (my family moved) they were mostly from upper-middle-class and wealthy families. Most were cheerleaders, members of sports teams, and/or heavily involved in extracurricular activities. Basically the Hollywood of the school.
6th Oct 2017
Frasier (1993)
Question: Would it be realistic for someone with Martin's injury to need a physical therapist for eleven years?
Answer: No, and it's outright stated in the show that Martin doesn't need her around after a few years, but the Crane family (Niles especially) are very fond of her, and want to have her around. Daphne, too, has become very attached to the Cranes and is reluctant to leave.
Answer: Daphne also cooks and serves meals, handles some errands, cleans, does laundry, etc. She is basically a housekeeper in addition to being Martin's therapist.
4th Sep 2023
Married... with Children (1987)
Question: I remember at least a couple of jokes on this show about Michael Bolton: a character disliking him, Al wanting to get rid of him, etc. Is there a story behind it?
Answer: A lot of "manly men" like Al, don't like Michael Bolton's music. He's just an easy target.
On a similar note, some 2000s shows had comments/jokes about a female character not liking Britney Spears. If a singer is massively popular, there is a select group of people who are tired of hearing about them and resent them. Which is often a subject of joke material.
30th Sep 2010
Scream (1996)
Question: Why didn't Casey ring the police, after the call when she realied he was taunting and making threats?
Answer: Landline phones like the one used in the movie cannot dial out a phone number while the line is active. Considering the killer is continuously calling her, she can't dial out on the phone line. This is referenced in the movie itself when her parents arrive home, attempt to dial 911, and can't due to the line still being active.
Answer: Characters in horror movies are notorious for not doing the most obvious things. It's most likely that she was scared and not thinking straight at receiving numerous threatening phone calls, particularly when she is threatened after hanging up on the killer.
Also, when she told the caller that she was "two seconds away from calling the police", his response was that they'd never make it in time. She also knew he was nearby as he made comments that indicated he could see her. She didn't know it was someone that knew her. She's a teenager and scared, so her judgement was clouded. She reached a point where she believed her only chance was to get away from him by either fighting him or getting out and hiding somewhere outside.
Even in real life, people don't always think of something obvious when a situation is actually happening. I was a victim of armed robbery and almost died. No matter how much you read/hear about what to do in those situations, actually being in one is much different. It's easy for someone else to observe and say what a person should have done.
6th Aug 2021
King of the Hill (1997)
The Redneck on Rainey Street - S8-E21
Question: After Kahn and Minh neglect their home and bills, the realtor tells Hank that they will be out of the house "in ten working days." Wouldn't the bank be required to give them thirty days?
Answer: The realtor says that "with any luck", the Souphanousinphones will be gone in ten working days. I think she was actually hoping that Kahn and Minh would give up and abandon the property quickly. The foreclosure and eviction process can take at least three months.
20th May 2023
The Golden Girls (1985)
Wham, Bam, Thank You, Mammy - S6-E5
Question: According to this episode, Mammy Watkins and Blanche's father were in love for 50 years. And they would have been married "in another time and place." However, Blanche's father married a different woman in Season Two ("Big Daddy's Little Lady"). Why would he not have married Mammy Watkins after Blanche's mother died?
Answer: Because a lot of people, especially in the southern US, simply would not have accepted an interracial marriage. Depending when Blanche's mother died, it might not have even been legal at the time; the last anti-miscegenation laws in their home state of Georgia were struck down in 1967.
The episode "Mother's Day" shows Blanche visiting her mother, who is age 89, and Blanche does not look any younger than she does in the present. Apparently her mother died in the late 70s or the 80s. However, I live in the southern US. Even now, in 2023, there are still many people who would object to an interracial marriage. Another factor could be guilt; maybe Blanche's father felt too guilty to marry Mammy Watkins after betraying Blanche's mother for so long.
That is a good point. Marrying someone he's known for years...tongues would wag. 'How long was THAT going on?'.
Answer: My interpretation is that Blanche's father didn't feel quite the same way about the relationship. Blanche only has Mammie's word that they "would have been married" in another life. I've heard of situations where a person had a longtime affair with someone, but refused to leave their spouse, for whatever reason (maybe finances and reputation/image in their community). This actually happens to Dorothy in another episode: she dates a married man who wants a secret relationship with her, while keeping his marriage because it's predictable and safe.
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Answer: It was Stewart. The wolf, as Dr Alezais says, removes everything from a person except for the person's nature and heart. Stewart, when talking to Laura at the estate, states that she knows what happened to Charlotte, which was his subtle way of saying he had murdered her.